ABSTRACT
The twentieth century has witnessed dramatic changes in the nature of processes of socialisation. In a period of rapid change the challenge has been to prepare people of all ages, not just the young, to be able to cope with the demands made by the complex nature of modern, urban, industrial society. Socialisation is a critical concept for all the social sciences because in considering it people are forced to examine the relationship between the individual and society. Although the interactionist approach to socialisation is still about fitting individuals and society together, the emphasis is on the person's learning experiences as he adapts to the various situations he encounters each day. Socialisation theorists debate whether what they are examining is a lifelong process of continuing adaptation to new roles and situations or a unique and relatively irreversible set of experiences confined to early childhood.
